Third suspect arrested in Drexel Park case

A third suspect in an assault that nearly took the life of a Drexel Park man is to be arraigned today in Lenawee County Circuit Court on murder attempt, torture, conspiracy and home invasion charges.

Leondre Demond McCarver, 20, of Detroit was taken into custody Tuesday night by federal marshals in the Detroit area after a warrant was authorized by the Lenawee County Prosecutor’s Office.

Detectives have worked long hours investigating the Dec. 29 assault, said Lenawee County Sheriff Jack Welsh. The investigation is continuing, he said, and charges may be sought against several more suspects.

The 53-year-old victim was found by a neighbor who reported hearing calls for help before noon on Dec. 29. The critically injured man was in the doorway of his home on Parr Highway and Drexel Boulevard, according to sheriff’s department reports.

The victim is reported to be recovering from multiple injuries.

No description of the injuries nor a possible motive for the attack have been released by the sheriff’s department or prosecutor’s office.

The first suspects charged in the case are the victim’s 23-year-old daughter, Jessica Mae-Ann Tabernero of Adrian, and a 47-year-old man discharged from prison last year, James Graham Cooper of Manitou Beach.

Lenawee County Prosecutor Burke Castleberry declined to comment on McCarver’s arrest except to confirm a warrant charging him with the murder attempt.

McCarver was being held without bond pending arraignment today in district court.

Cooper is also being held without bond on murder attempt, torture, conspiracy and home invasion charges. He waived a preliminary examination in district court on Feb. 7 and is to be arraigned in circuit court on Feb. 20.

Tabernero pleaded not guilty on Jan. 23 in circuit court to a single count of conspiracy to commit assault with intent to do great bodily harm. She is being held in lieu of a $500,000 bond pending a Feb. 27 hearing.